


M. 




Jb^'"ik0^: 



LETTERS 



FROM 



JOSEPH RITSON, ESQ. 



TO 



MR. GEORGE PATON". 



TO WHICH IS ADDED, 

A CRITIQUE BY JOHN PINKERTON, ESa 
UPON RITSON'S SCOTISH SONGS, 



EDINBURGH: 

PRINTED FOR JOHN STEVENSON^ 

87, PRINCES STREET. 

M,DCCC,XXIX, 







.t^ 



ONE HUNDRED COPIES PRINTED, 



PREFATORY NOTICE. 



The following Letters, from the pen of Ritson, 
and addressed to the late Mr George Paton, of the 
Custom-House, Edinburgh, are now for the first 
time printed : — and it is presumed no apology is ne- 
cessary for laying before the public these interesting 
remains, of an individual who was so much, and so 
justly celebrated for his literary attainments. 

Mr Paton had, for a long series of years, devoted 
himself to the study of Scotish antiquities. From 
his father, who was a bookseller in Edinburgh, he 
acquired a large collection of books, to which the un- 
remitting industry of a long life enabled him to make 
large and important additions. Although his means 
were limited, (his income as a clerk in the Custom- 
House for many years not exceeding the small pit- 
tance of £60,) he was enabled, by frugality, and per- 
haps by some small sum left him by his father, not 
only to subsist in a reputable manner, but gradually 
to increase his valuable librarv. 



Yl 



He died upon the 6th of March 1807, at an ad- 
vanced age, and greatly regretted by those who had 
the pleasure of being acquainted with hira. In the 
Gentleman's Magazine for October the same year, 
the following notice of his demise occurs : — 

" At Edinburgh, in his 87th year, Mr George 
Paton ; who, notwithstanding he held no higher 
rank than the place of a clerk in the Custom-House, 
had a mind and a library enriched with a fund of 
antiquarian knowledge of North Britain, historical 
and topographical, confessed by the obligations which 
all had to his varied stores, and by the peculiar pains 
which certain of his neighbours took to conceal his 
death and the destination of his books. Among the 
many who experienced his friendly aid, none has 
more gratefully expressed it than the editor of the 
new edition of the British Topography, and of Cam- 
den's Britannia ; in the Preface to the first of which^ 
he speaks of hira, as " having spared no trouble or 
expense to enlarge the article of Scotish topogra- 
phy ; which, in the course of ten years from the 
first edition, by the indefatigable attention of his 
very ingenious and communicative friend, Mr George 
Paton, of the Custora-House, Edinburgh, he was 
enabled to nearly double." There is a small por- 
trait of him, a private plate, etched in 1785 ; when 
he was " set. 64, nat. 1721." Mr Paton s brother 



vu 



was minister at Ecclesfechan, where he died lately, 
possessed also of a valuable library." 

The correspondence between Paton and Gough, 
is preserved in the Advocates' Library, and it affords 
the most decisive proof of the value of the informa- 
tion given. Of its importance, Gough was fully 
aware ; and the kindly and affectionate tone of his 
letters, shews, how grateful he felt for the assistance 
afforded. There is a manly and affectionate sincerity 
about them much to his credit, and they present a 
remarkable contrast to the letters from Bishop Percy, 
who was under equally great obligations to Paton, 
but who, courtier like, proffered much more than he 
ever intended to perform ; and probably imagined, 
that the unmeaning compliments he paid him were 
a sufficient return for the favours conferred. 

Paton's communications were not, however, relish- 
ed by one of the individuals, whose productions were 
by his means brought in a somewhat unfavourable 
point of view before the public, in that valuable 
work, for assisting him in which, Gough had paid 
him such deserved compliments ; as Captain Arm- 
strong, who had engraved some maps of the more 
southern counties of Scotland, and whose productions 
had been to a certain extent censured, thought proper 
to favour the respectable old gentleman with the 
following most extraordinary epistle: — 






VIU 



Normch^ May 19. 1782. 

Sir, 

It was not till very lately that Mr Cough's two 
volumes of British Topography fell into my hands. 
As he acknowledges himself beholden io you for the 
Scottish anecdotes, I cannot suppress a strong inclina- 
tion to congratulate the public on the joint labours of 
two gentlemen, remarkable for their depth of under- 
standing and impartial criticisms, which I shall most 
certainly do (in gratitude for your very liberal account 
o^my publications) before I am a twelvemonth older : 
but, as I am now writing iti confidence, I still will 
be more friendly. 

The whole work is a stupid, ill-digested, ignorant, 
and illiberal jumble of scraps and opinions, too con- 
temptible for serious perusal. 

It certainly was not the original intention of the 
compiler of this Catalogue of twopenny halfpenny 
pamphlets and prints to become a Reviewer I By 
whose advice he has presumed to swell the books 
with his and your characters of publications, I know 
not ; but he owes great obligations to the Monitor for 
rendering the work a base, libellous, rascally per- 
formance, evidently calculated to injure individuals, 
and impose on the public a surreptitious detail of 
things, in a manner partly uninteresting, and partly 
flagitious. 



IX 



I will not condescend, at present, to enter into a 
refutation of such of the articles as come within my 
own knowledge, but will rest my opinion of the 
whole by those. I cannot, however, pass over one 
item, the Map of Peebleshire, to which you have 
tacked some observations totally falsej as may be 
proved by the opinions of every gentleman in that 
county.* For this, and many other invidious asser- 
tions to be found in the books, you and the affected 
Mr Gough deserve more than I have an opportunity 
at this distance of bestowing. I remain to both per- 
sonally a stranger ; and am. Sir, one who holds you 
both in proper contempt 1 

MosTYN Jno. Armstrong. 

Armstrong did not limit his abuse to Paton, but 
at the same time transmitted the ensuing letter to 
Gough. 

* The offensive passages are as follow : *' A Survey, in two 
sheets, by Armstrong and Son, 1774 ; a copy from Edgar, the 
plate lost." — " A Companion to the Map of the County of 
Peebles, or Tweeddale, published 20th June, 1775, Edin. 8vo. 
by Armstrong. This was certainly composed by some proprie- 
tor in this county, although assumed by Armstrong." Vol. ii, 
p. 706. 



NormcJi, May 19. 1782. 

Sm, 

On a cursory perusal of your Anecdotes of British 
Topography, in two volumes, I found amongst them 
so many errors and misrepresentations, and some of 
them appear so much the result of design, or effect 
of ignorance, that I could not repress those feelings 
which are natural to one, who, after receiving the 
most flattering testimonies of public approbation, sees 
his own works recorded with others as surreptitious 
and unskilful. What conclusion must the reader 
draw from an opinion so injurious to the reputation 
of an author ? Either the author or Mr Gough has 
deceived the public ! and it behoves each to vindicate 
or correct his assertions. With that sentiment, I 
shall take the liberty of selecting from the British 
Topography, such paragraphs as merit notice, with 
the most candid remarks on each,- — such only as 
truth and justice require. These, Sir, I mean to 
submit to the public. 

I do not conceive that the nature of your compila- 
tion ought to have admitted of any criticisms on the 
merits of topographical publications ; and the more 
especially, unless you had been enabled to do so in 
ioto. But it does not appear to me that either your 
temper or talents are suited to so arduous a task. I 
am willing, however, to believe, that you have, in 
some instances, been prejudiced by interested motives, 



XI 



or misled by those persons who afforded assistance ; 
of which your Scots caterer is a damning proof. 

I have hitherto deferred writing to you on the sub- 
ject, as not being resolved in what manner I should 
communicate the numerous partial and flagitious 
errors and misrepresentations which I have disco- 
vered in every section of your books. This is the 
only letter I have any intention of directing to you ; 
I shall, therefore, subscribe myself, in thorough con- 
tempt of you and your Scots friend. 
Sir, 
Your most humble servant, 

MosTYN Jno. Armstrong. 

P.S. I have wrote by this post to Mr Paton at 
Edinburg-h. 

Paton was in the middle of a letter to his friend, 
when Armstrong's philippic came to hand. " While 
writing this, the inclosed impertinent, ignorant, scur- 
rilous rhapsody was brought me ; forgive my trans- 
mitting it for perusal, which be kind enough as re- 
turn at pleasure. (I) am diffident of resolution, 
whether such a blundering blockhead of an impostor, 
shall have any answer made him ; horse- whipping 
would serve him better than a reply : I wish to have 
it again, to shew some here who know his &c. &c. 
He is below notice, and despise him, as he is gene- 



XYl 



rally so here. The joint tricks of father atitl son being 
so well known in this place, they could remain no 
longer with us." 

In answer, Gough mentions that, " from the coun- 
terpart which Mr Armstrong sent to me (of which 
I enclose a copy,) that he intended you a like mark 
of his regard. Silence is the only answer to such 
dirty impertinence, and his character seems too well 
known among you. If I do not mistake, I met with 
the elder when I was in Scotland : he was very full of 
himself, and his discoveries in surveying. Do you 
know whence they come, and of what country ? He 
has been possessed of my book a full twelve months, 
and he got it by exchange of some of his Surveys with 
Mr T. Payne after some importunity." In reply 
Paton stated, " I am obliged to you for the return 
of Armstrong's letter, as likewise for (the) copy of the 
one he sent you. Nothing else could be looked for 
from such mean creatures as Father and Son, both 
whose abilities, conduct, and impositions, are too well 
known here for them to have made a longer stay with 
us. I make no doubt of the old man's boastings : 
these were only ideal, for he never put them in 
practice. He was in a marching regiment, where he 
was held in contempt; (he) originated from the 
neighbourhood of Newcastle upon Tyne ; they have 
assurance enough to barter their impressions, for 
any articles can be disposed of more readily than their 
own unmerchantible maps." 



Xill 



As miglit be anticipated, neither Gough or Lis friend 
ever heard any more on the subject : it is probable 
that upon cooling, the Armstrongs judged it more 
prudent to be quiescent. However, as Paton was 
evidently writing under feelings of irritation, the 
character given by him of these individuals cannot 
be depended on. 

Upon a subsequent occasion, a more formidable, and 
still more virulent attack was made upon him, by 
that most unaccountable person, John Pinkerton; 
who, taking offence at some criticisms which Paton 
had made upon his works, vomited forth such a tor- 
rent of abuse,* as completely eclipsed Captain Arm- 
strong's more temperate animadversions. 

Among his correspondents were, (besides Gough, 
Percy, and Ritson,) Dr Robertson, Lord Hailes, Pen- 
nant, George Chalmers, Captain Grose, Callander 
of Craigforth, Riddel of Glenriddell, Low, the author 
of the Fauna Orcadensis, and various other indivi- 
duals equally distinguished for their acquirements. 
From their letters, which are preserved in the Advo- 
vocates' Library, a selection might be made fully as 
interesting as instructive. 

His books, probably the most curious and valu- 
able collection of the kind ever exposed to sale in this 



* See his letter, privately printed in " Reliquice Scoikce,'' 
8vo. Edin. 1827, No. 18. 



11 ' 

i{i scarce. 



XIV 



country, were sold by auction in the year 1809;* 
and his manuscripts, prints, coins, &c. were subse- 
quently disposed of in a similar manner, the latter 
sale commenced upon the 2d, and terminated on the 
12th December ISll.t 

Besides the private print, mentioned in the notice 
of Mr Paton given in the Obituary of the Gentle- 
man's Magazine, there is an etching by Kay, done 
sometime in the year 1787.:j: The Antiquarian 
Society of Edinburgh, of which he was a member, 
possess a beautiful drawing in chalk of him, by 
Brown ; which, it is much to be regretted, has not, 
with the other portraits (equally well executed) of the 
original members of that Society, been engraved. 

Although Mr Paton assisted in the publication of 
various works, it is not believed that he ever pro- 
duced any thing of his own : there seems, however, 
good reason to suppose, that, besides the assistance 
given to Mr Gough in his Topography, he partly, 
if not wholly, edited the first edition (in one vol.) 

• The sale began on IMonday, 27th February, and ended on 
the 25th of March thereafter. 

•)- Priced copies of this and the preceding catalogue are 



X There are five figures in the etching, — Mr John David- 
son, Lord Henderland, Mr Paton, Lord Monboddo, and Dv 
Hutton. Paton is represented as a very respectable looking el- 
derly gentleman, both in this and the private print. Tliey are 
equally scarce. 



XV 



of tlie Collection of Scotish Ballads usually ascribed 
to David Herd. It is evidently in allusion to it, 
that Bishop Percy, in a letter dated 9th February 
1769, returns his "best thanks" for his (Paton's) let- 
ter, and for " the very kind and valuable present of 
your book, which is a very desirable addition to my 
collection of ancient Songs and Poems." He hopes 
it will succeed, "so that t/ou will be excited to give 
us another volume of the same kind." This is pro- 
bably the " tantalizing " specimen alluded to by 
Ritson. The edition of Urquhart of Cromarty's 
Tracts, printed at Edinburgh in 1774, has errone- 
ously been assigned to him, for in a letter to Gougli 
he pointedly disclaims any concern with the work. 
It is by no means unlikely that Herd was the editor. 

It only remains to notice, that the letters are print- 
ed, without variation, from the originals in the Ad- 
vocates' Library. It is the more necessary to state 
this, as the adoption of the capital "/," so contrary to 
Ritson's usual practice, might induce a suspicion that 
liberties had been taken with the text. In the ca- 
talogue of songs alone, the small " i" occurs. 

As so much is said about the Shakspeare forgery 
in the letters, a few short extracts from the corre* 
spondence of Gough and Paton will be found in the 
Appendix; together with the celebrated Critique 
upon the Scotish Songs, which there can be little 
doubt was written by Pinkerton. 



M 



LETTERS 



JOSEPH RITSON, ESQ. 



Mr GEORGE PATON. 



Gray's Inn, I5ih Nov. 1792. 
SIR, 

Applying to you without ceremony as a lover 
and promoter of all literary undertakings, par- 
ticularly such as are any way connected with 
your native country, I take the liberty to in- 
close three printed leaves of an intended publi- 
cation of Scotish Songs, which I shall esteem 
it a particular favour if you would be pleased 
to collate carefully with Lord Hyndford's MS.* 

• Commonly called the " Bannatyne MS." from its having 
been compiled by George Bannatyne, a merchant in Edin- 
burgh, to whose indefatigable industry we are indebted for the 
preservation of the great body of early Scotish Poetry. 
B 



in the Advocates'* Library. It is the only piece 
which escaped me when at Edinburgh, and you 
will easily find it by the first line in the Index. 

The other article I trouble you with is a list 
of words occurring in Scotish Songs, most of 
which I neither understand myself, nor can find 
explained in any Glossary. All of them, how- 
ever, are probably familiar to you ; and I can 
rely with confidence on the explanations with 
which you may be pleased to favour me. 

Dr Farmer, not having his copy of Sir David 
Lindsay's Satyres in town, has obligingly pro- 
mised to send down for it to Cambridge. I 
shall expect it, of course, in a few days. 

The date of your book of Godly Songs is 
1621 ; Mr Brand, chaplain to the Duke of Nor- 
thumberland, has a perfect copy, of which Mr 
Chalmers gave me the full title. It is clearly 
the same edition with yours. I have never 
heard of a third copy. 

I am possessed of a very rare and curious 
book. It is, « The Seuin Seages Translatit out 
of Prois in Scottis Meter be lohne RoUand in 



Dalkeith. Imprentit at Edinburgh be lohne 
Ros, for Henrie Charteris, m.d.lxxviii." 8vo. 
b. 1. There is a later edition mentioned by 
Ames, but I know no one who has it. 

You will oblige me very much by saying 
whether, in the course of your extensive re- 
searches, you have ever met with any specimen 
of the vulgar language of Scotland prior to the 
year 1250; or what you think that language 
was, tyiz. whether Gaelic or English. I am, 
With great respect, 

SiK, 

Your very obedient humble servant, 

J. RITSON. 
P. S. Do you know any thing of Sir Alexander 
Halket, who he was, or when he lived or died ? 

II. 

Grain's Inn, 8th Jan. 1793.* 
SIR, 

I DEFEERED, perhaps improperly, the ac- 
knowledgment of your favours of the 8th and 

• It is 1792 in the letter, but this is evidently a mistake. 



17th ult. till the arrival of the small parcel you 
mentioned, which I expected some weeks since,, 
but did not receive till yesterday. 

I am much obliged both to you and to the 
gentleman who took the trouble to go through 
my list of old Scotish words, many of which, I 
must presume, are become altogether obsolete 
and unintelligible, or confined, at least, to some 
remote part of the country, as I cannot assent 
to every explanation your friend has given ; 
though I shall rest satisfied with what I have 
done, and neither give you, myself, or any one 
else, further trouble about the matter. I am 
very thankful for the reference to Joceline's Life 
of St Mungo, which I shall immediately see 
after; 

You must cease to consider Lord Hailes as s 
most foitJbful publisher ; as I, who have collated 
many of his articles with the Bannatyne MS. 
know the contrary to my cost. I do not, in- 
deed, mean to say that he is so intentionally 
faithless as Ramsay ; but I do say that his tran- 
scripts have been very inaccurate, that he has ia 



numerous instances wilfully altered the original 
orthography, and not unfrequently misinterpret- 
ed the text of the MS. which I suspect he was 
occasionally unable to read. I am much obliged 
by your offer of a copy of his Lordship's publi= 
cation; but you will pereiit me to inform you, 
that I possess not only this, but almost every 
other volume of Scotish Poetry, ancient or 
modern, hitherto printed, except your Godly 
Songs; and am nearly as perfect in Scotish 
history. 

I am now satisfied that no one can tell me 
from good authority what was the vulgar lan- 
guage of the south of Scotland in the 12th cen- 
tury. I, however, entirely concur with you in 
opinion^ that it was the English Saxon. Did! 
mention to you that I had got a genuine Scot- 
ish song of the year 1S89 ? 

The Gaelic MS. mentioned by your friend to 
be in the Advocates' Library, I suppose I saw. 
I know nothing of Gaelic ; but the character, I 
perceive, is Irish, and the writing, as I conjec- 
ture, of the last century ; at any rate, not of R€k 



bert Bruce'^s time. I should be glad of a faith- 
ful translation of that part of the MS. in which 
the author speaks of himself, his age, or coun- 
try ; as I am anxious to be convinced of a Gaelic 
MS. 

Your edition of the " Seven Sages'^* seem 
equally rare with the two former. I mention- 
ed it to Mr Chalmers, who means to favour the 
public with the exact account of the origin and 
progress of Scotish typography, by way of pre- 
face, as I conceive, to his Life of Ruddiman. 

I observed, in consequence of a query in your 
first letter, that John Knox is in an old book, 
in my possession, intitled " Ane Disputation 
concerning the controuersit headis of religion, 
&c." Paris 1581, generally stiled " Schir John 
Kmnox ;"" and you will find, I presume, that he 
was a secular priest, who had taken his degree 



• Probably the one described as follows in Paton's wretch- 
edly got up sale catalogue 2555. " Holland's Seven Sages, 
Scots metter, black letter, 1631. The Eclogs of the Poet B. 
Mantuan Carmelitan, 1572. The Diuel Conquered. Tobac- 
coy a Poem, 1651," In one volume 12mo. 



of M. A. at the University : a character to which 
I believe the Pope's knighthood was confined. 

There is a collection of " Ancient Songs'' 
lately published by Johnson in St Paul's Church 
Yard, in which Dr Percy's Theory of the old 
English Minstrels is criticised, and perhaps con- 
futed : I am sorry I have not a copy of it for 
your acceptance. I wish, however, you would 
please to inform me how I can send you any 
thing of this kind sooner or easyer, than you 
can procure it by means of the booksellers in 
Edinburgh . 

I am sorry that Dr Farmer has not been able 
to find the volume of tracts containing " Sir D. 
Lindsay's Satire." He supposes it to have been 
lent to Mr Malone, to whom Mr Steevens had 
promised to make immediate application. But 
perhaps you have already learned that Pinker- 
ton has lately published these Satires from a 
(very incorrect) copy of the Hyndford MS. to- 
gether with the various readings of the printed 
edition ; published under the name of G. Nichols, 
for C. Dilly, in the Poultry, 3 vols, crown 8vo. 
price 9s. He has had the impudence and dis- 



8 

iionesty to insert in this collection a curious old 
MS. poem in my possession, of which a friend 
of his had some years since surreptitiously ob- 
tained a copy, and which on that friend's appli- 
cation from him, I positively refused my leave 
to print. He, or some one for him, (Mr Car- 
lionnel, I presume) has had the use of the old 
volume of tracts in the Advocates'* Library. 

I have been able to meet with no further in- 
telligence about Sir Alexander Halket. He is 
«aid to be the author of Gilderoy, and I strongly 
suspect him to have had a principal hand in tlie 
forgery of Hardyknute^ which is all that I know 
of him. 

I am sorry to find that business should press 
^o hard upon you at a time of life %s^hich should 
be devoted to ease and indulgence ; and the 
more so, as it deprives the pubUc of all benefit 
from the exertion of those talents and that 
knowledge of men and books of which they 
have had so tantalizing a specimen. I am, 
Sir, 
Very sincerely and respectfully yours, 

J. RITSON. 



P.S. When you call in at Mr Laing's shop, 
please to tell him that I have not yet received 
the parcel of books from his catalogue. 

III. 

Gray's Inn, 5th March 179*. 
BEAR SIR, 
I HAVE been extremely mortifyed to learn, 
that the parcel which I delivered directed for 
you, to George Robertson, in the beginning af 
iast year, and which he professes to have sent 
by a person belonging to Kirkaldie, has entirely 
miscarried. It contained the supplement to your 
■defective copy of Sir David Lindsay's Satyre, 
and some other papers, I believe of less mo- 
ment. I would have found other means of con- 
veyance, but concluded from the circumstance 
of your friendship with Mr Robertson, that I 
<»uld not consult either expedition or security 
better than by entrusting it to him. I have 
called repeatedly at his shop to learn the name 
of the man, but am never able to find him at 
home. We must therefore, I fear, giv« the par- 
cel up for lost 



10 

Though, as I am persuaded I have already 
told you, I do not much admire Lord Hailes' 
judgment in the selection he made from your 
Godly Ballads, I am not the less obliged to you 
for the copy I received, and which has sufficient 
merit as coming from a gentleman of whose friend- 
ship and favour I shall be always very proud. 

I shall beg your acceptance shortly of a small 
collection of Scotish Songs-, with which I have 
certainly taken some pains, though I cannot 
boast that the result is altogether sucessful or 
satisfactory. You will perceive, however, by a 
note at the end of the work, that I have been 
fortunate enough to ascertain the exact date of 
Sir D. Lindsay's Satyre, which appears to have 
been originally represented before the king and 
queen at Linlithgow, on the 6th of January 
1 539. Any corrections, improvements, or ob- 
servations will be duly regarded. 

The impression of another little volume, of 
which I believe I shewed you a fragment, en- 
titled " The Caledonian Muse," which had en- 
gaged my attention for a great many years, and 



11 



was at last got nearly ready for publication, has 
been lately destroyed by a fire in the printer's 
house ; so that I neither possess, nor can pro- 
cure, one single copy. Sic transit gloria mundi ! 
You will have heard, I presume, that Winton's 
Chronicle by a Mr Macpherson, is in great for- 
wardness. It is to surpass, in point of correctness 
and typography, any thing that has hitherto 
appeared. But I confess the specimen I have 
seen betrayed symptoms of licentiousness and 
affectation, which I can neither approve of nor 
account for, 

Pinkerton seems busy in his intended His- 
tory of Scotland. Whether it is to be the same 
with that advertised under the name of Robert 
Heron,* I cannot learn. His treatment of the 



■ Pinkerton brought out his " Letters on Literature" un- 
der the fictitious name of " Robert Heron." It singularly hap- 
pened that a " Kobert Heron," a man of some literary acquire- 
ments, did then exist, and that he was about to publish a 
History of Scotland. Pinkerton was also at the time engaged 
in his History of the Stewarts, and thus the puzzle which 
perplexed Ritson arose. Of the unfortunate fate of the real 
Robert Heron, a very interesting account will be found in 
Murray's valuable, but undeservedly neglected, literary His- 
tory of Galloway. 



12 

^« Celtic savages" is to be speedily resented in 
print by the Reverend John Lane Buchanan, 
nominal author of " Travels in the Western 
Hebrides," who seems, in fact, to be as very a 
Celt as his antagonist could possibly wish for. I 
am sorry to find so good a cause in the hands of 
such an incompetent advocate. 

I indulge myself at present with the hopes of 
seeing you in the course of the ensuing sum- 
mer : and in the mean while, request you to be- 
lieve me, 

Dear Sir, 
Your sincere friend and faithful 
Obedient servant, 

J. EITSON. 

IV. 

Grays Inn i IQtk Jan. 1795. 
DEAR SIR, 
The receit of your obliging favour, (which the 
expectation of a cover prevented by immediately 
acknowledging,) gave me great pleasure. I am 
sorry to have been deprived of the still greater 
pleasure of a personal interview ; but can assure 



you, that the circumstances which conspired to 
defeat my proposed visit to " the good town"*' 
did not include a want of inclination. 

I shall be highly gratifyed with a perusal of 
the fragments of Scotish Songs collected by Mr 
Herd,* which may be sent by the mail, under 



• David Herd is known as the editor of a curious, and now 
somewhat rare collection of Scots Songs, of which the first edi- 
tion in one volume appeared in'the year 1769, and the second 
edition in two volumes in the year 1776. In the preparation 
of this work, Herd derived considerable assistance from his 
friend George Paton. He was a clerk in the office of Mr 
David Russell, accountant in Edinburgh ; and although gene- 
rally termed a writer, is understood never to have entered with 
any of the corporations. He was a quiet, well meaning, and 
industrious man, without any pretence, and did not deserve 
the character of an " illiterate and injudicious eompiler," which 
Mr Pinkerton was pleased to bestow upon him. See Pinkerton*s 
letters to Paton, Reliquce Scoticce, No. 18. Edin. 8vo. 1828. 
David could say bitter things too, as the following excerpt from 
a letter of his to Paton, relative to the edition of the Wallace 
printed by the Morisons at Perth (3 vols. 12mo.) will testify. 

" My Lord Buchan has caused the editor put at the begin- 
ning, a picture of a brozy fat mendicant, aged 50 years at least, 
and this he calls the Young Hero Wallace, who was cut off in 
his 29th year ! 

" On a former occasion he made them give the figure of an 
idiotical distorted monster, under the denomination of that ao 
complished Prince, James the I. 



14 

cover to Mr Chalmers, to whom either yourself 
or Mr Laing may possibly have other matters 
to communicate; and shall be returned with 
equal safety, and probably by the same con- 
veyance.* I feel myself much indebted and 

" They ought to have returned both to wipe his Lordship's 
b 

" Thursday, 9fh Dec. 1790." 

• There seems to have been some delay, on the part of Paton, 
in transmitting the ballads, which Herd did not seem pleased 
with, as upon the 3d January he addresses the following letter 
to his friend. 

" I have not been abroad much in the evenings this week to 
call upon you, owing to the slipperyness of the streets ; and 
therefore send you inclosed the last old song to be forwarded 
with the former parcel to Mr Ritson. 

" By his last letter to you, I see he is anxious for these. I 
do not altogether approve of this method of long hanging up a 
gentleman upon the tenter hooks of expectation, for a few frag- 
ments, as it is enhancing their value more, than he may after- 
wards think them worth. 

*' I do not want any of them to be returned to me ; he is 
extremely welcome to make what he pleases of them, and if any 
thing further in that line falls in my way afterwards, I shall 
give it to you to be transmitted. Mr Laing will forward your 
pacquet by the mail coach — we have experienced what it is to 
trust private hands. The last almanac I sent to ]Mr Syme by 
an officer who was to leave it at Newcastle for him, but (he) 
never thought more of it till he arrived at Plymouth." Rit- 
son was not disappointed with the communications, as will be 
seen from his next letter. 



15 

obliged, both to Mr Herd and yourself, for this 
proof of your attention and liberality. My lit- 
tle collection, I fear, was scarcely worth your 
acceptance, as there can be very few things in it 
which you were not already acquainted with. 
Could I, indeed, have made it convenient to 
have passed a summer or two in the south of 
Scotland, I might perhaps have been able to 
render it more gratifying to curiosity. 

If the Duke of Roxburgh's edition of the 
« Godly Songs" bear the date of 1600, 1 should 
suppose it to be either thej^r,s^ or second ; as I 
believe your own was printed in 1621. The 
date, indeed, is unluckily cut off, but Mr 
Chalmers supplyed me with the full title of a 
copy in the possession of Mr Brand, a clergy- 
man, (Secretary to the Society of Antiquaries,) 
which agreed in every respect with that of yours. 
I should certainly be glad enough to see the 
Duke's book, but have no opportunity of gain- 
ing access to it. If I may take the liberty to re- 
fer you to my " Historical Essay," (pp. xxxvii 
li), you will perceive upon what grounds I con- 



elude the author of " The Complaint of Scot- 
lande," and the author of the " Godly Songs," 
to be one and the same person, and also how 
much I am indebted to your friendship for the 
discovery. I am persuaded that Sir James 
Inglis's title to the former of those works, is 
merely founded upon a mistake of Dr Macken- 
zie, or of some person he had consulted. That 
Lord Oxford's copy of the book, (whatever is 
become of it,) actually possessed the title, and 
that the author's name appeared thereby to be 
" Vedderburne," seems evident from Osburne's 
Catalogue.* But I perceive, on dipping into 
the new edition of " Ame^ History of Print- 
ing^ that you have already handled the matter 
with your usual accuracy and research. 

In the Faculty Library, as I learn from their 
printed catalogue, is some old Scotish poetry by 



• As to this, see Leyden's Introduction to the Complaynt of 
Scotland ; Herd's Letter in the Scots Magazine for January 
1802 ; and Strictures thereon in the Number for July. After 
all the discussion on the subject, the matter just remains where 
it was, and will do so, until a copy with the title-page turns up. 



17 

James Gray, of which I shall esteem it a very 
particular favour if you can procure me some 
account. I have never been able to hear any 
thing of the old volume of Tracts, which is a 
severe disappointment. Mr Fraser Tytler, who 
promised me to look after it, is probably dissa- 
tisfied with the manner in which I have thought 
myself obliged to diiFer from his father; but 
which is no other, I believe, than he himself 
differed from Hume and Robertson. Magis 
arnica Veritas was his motto, and is mine. 

I am very much afraid that Mr Chalmers 
undertakes so many literary adventures at once, 
he will never be able to achieve them either with 
satisfaction to his judgment, or with safety to his 
health. I have not learned what progress he has 
made in " the Life of Allan Ramsay;" but I find 
he is, likewise, engaged upon that of Thomson, 
as well as on the lives of all the political and 
commercial writers of Great Britain ; and not 
the less occupyed, at the same time, in a work of 
still greater magnitude and importance, — a sort 
of Villare Scoticum, upon a most extensive, and,^ 
e 



18 

so far as I am capable of judgeing, most excel- 
lent plan : * which will, unquestionably, prove 
of the greatest utility to Scotish history, — of 
much greater indeed than any thing that has 
hitherto appeared : his object being to amass the 
utmost possible quantity of facts, verifyed by 
the best possible authoritys. He has lately fa- 
voured me with your engraved portrait, upon 
which you may be assured I set no small value. 

I shall be glad if you will inform me who was 
the editor of Montrose's Memoirs, published in 
1756. I had understood him to be the late 
Lord Hailes,-[* which I now fancy a mistake, as 
his Lordship's character seems to savour too 
much of the virulency of whiggism for an ad- 
mirer of Montrose. 

Our friend Pinkerton, I am told, to complete 
the infamy of his character, has turned critical 

• An allusion to Chalmers' most valuable collection of ma- 
terials relative to Scotland, published under the name of " Ca- 
ledonia." 

•j- This notion had originated probably from the circumstance 
of his Lordship's having printed (privately) a specimen of an 
intended Life of Montrose. 



19 

reviewer ; a situation of course, which admits 
neither truth nor honesty. He will therefore 
have the pleasure of thundering his own dam- 
nation upon the heads of others, among whom, 
I suppose, he will take care, not to forget. 
Dear Sir, 
Your very sincere friend and 
Humble servant, 

J. RITSON. 

V. 

Grays I?in, 19ik May 1795. 
DEAR SIR, 
You will both accept yourself, and have the 
goodness to present to Mr Herd, my sincerest 
acknowledgements for his very valuable collec- 
tion of Scotish Ballads, many of which are par- 
ticularly curious, and such as I had never before 
seen or heard of. As this gentleman is peculi- 
arly conversant with the subject, I have taken 
the liberty, on the other side, to submit to his 
perusal a list of Scotish Songs which I have 
hitherto been unable to meet with, some of which 
he will probably recollect, and be able to say 



where they are to be found. I suppose I either 
possess, or have seen about as many more, the 
merits of which appear insufficient to rescue them 
from obRvion. But, all together, the number is 
prodigious ! From the falsehood, impudence, 
and scurrility of The Critical Review, I conclude 
that Pinkerton is one of ks principal authors, 
and particularly the gentleman to whom I and 
my little publication are so much obliged. You 
will think me too revengeful when I wish he 
were compelled to subscribe his name to his 
criticisms.* The Shakspearepapers,of which you 
have heard so much, and which I have carefully 
examined, are, I can assure you, a parcel of for- 
geries, studiously and ably calculated to deceive 
the public: the imposition being, in point of 
art and foresight, beyond any thing of the kind 
that has been witnessed since the days of Aru- 
nius Viterbiensis : So that we may soon hope to 



• This curious critique will be found in the Appendix, 
Certainly, after the unprovoked and scurrilous attack by Rit- 
son upon Pinkerton in the Introductory Essay to the Scots 
Songs, it was not surprising that the latter should retaliate. 



21 

snatch you in the number of literary impostors. 
I am, 

Dear Sir, 

Very sincerely yours, 

J.RITSON. 

P. S. I have at last recovered the tune to which 
^« the Banks of Helicon,'' and " the Gherrie and 
the Slae," were originally sung. Though lost in 
Scotland, and never perhaps known in England, 
it has been preserved in Wales by the name of 
" Glyn Helicon." Lord Hailes and Mr Tyt- 
ler would have been glad of this discovery. 

LIST OF SONGS REFERRED TO. 

Alack and well aday. 

Allan Water ; My love Annie's wondrous bonny. 
An auld man and a hand'ul o' siller. 
And you meet a lass that's gay. 
An Middleton be walking. 
Annie and Colin. 
An she come near me. 
As I came in by Falkland Fair. 
As I stood on the Pier of Leith. 
Auld lang syne : And drink a cup of kindness, 
For auld lang syne. 



Be constant still. 

Because i was a bonny lad. 

Bessy Bell and Mary Gray. (Original.) 

Boatman. 

Come ben and kiss me, man. 

Come kiss with me, come clap with me. 

Cutty spoon and tree laddie. 

Dear Billy, wilt thou go to battle ? 

Donald, gird my cogie. 

Duncan's complaint. 

For our lang biding here. (Original) 

For the love of Jean. 

Four-and- twenty Highland-men. 

Fie upon Carnegie. 

Had i the wate she bad me. 

Hallow-even. 

Hey, Tammy Brandy. 

Her answer it was mum. 

Hey how, the lang saddle. 

Hey the Lochart Lee man. 

Highland laddie. (Original.) 

Highland lassie, lovely thing. 

How can i be sad on my wedding-day. 

I am asleep, do not waken me. 

I canna winn hame to Eppie, I trow. 

I fix'd my fancy on her. 

I have lost my marrow. 

I loo'd a bonny lady. 



I'll gae nae mair to your town. 

I'll gar ye be fain to follow me. 

I'll love no more. 

ril never leave thee. 

I'll never see him more. 

m thro' the moor for a* that. 

I wish my love were in a mire. 

If you had been where i have been. 

In her cap she wore a feather. 

I'se ne'er rue i lov'd thee. 

Its i would have my gown made. 

Kate of Aberdeen. (Original.) 

Kilt thy coat, Maggy. 

Lochaber no more. ( Original) 

Lye still, good-man, and take another nap. 

My ain kind deary o : 

And tho' the night be ne'er sae dark. 
And I be wat and wearie o, 

I'll hap thee in my petticoat. 
My ain kind dearie o. 
My dear, come play me o'er again. 
My love, alas ! is dead and gone. 
My wife she dang me. 
O an i were marry'd. 
O, dear mother, what shall i do ? 
O, Jean, i love thee. 
O'er Bogie. 
O'er the hills and far awa'. ( Original.) 



S4 



One evening as i lost my way. 

Open the door to three. 

Peggy, I must love thee. {Original.) 

Polwarth on the green. {Original.) 

Saw ye my Peggy ? 

Sour plums of Gallashiels. 

Steer her up and had her gawn. 

Stormont's ghost. 

The ale-wife and her barrel. 

The auld gaud aver. 

The auld maid of Fife. 

The barber and his bason. 

The bonny lass of Aberdeen. 

The bonny est lass in a* the warld. 

The bonnyest lass in our town. 

The bursting sigh. 

The Corby and the Pyet. 

The Earl of Murray's bonny thing. 

The gallant shoemaker. 

The gleed Earl of Kelly. 

The Gordons has the guiding on't. 

The King of France, he run a race. 

The Lady of the flowery field. 

The man has got his mare again. 

The milking-pail. 

The minister's wife has learnt a sang. 

The old Stewarts back again. 

The old witch of Ochiltree. 



25 



The voice of my love. 

The vows of endless love. 

The widows shall have spouses. 

The winding of the stream. 

The winter it is past. 

The [old] wawJting of the fauld. 

There are few good fellows when Jamie's away. 

There's three good fellows down in yon glen. 

This Logan water is so deep. 

Thro' the wood, laddie. ( Original.) 

Under the green-wood tree. 

Up in the morning early. 

Up the reel of Bogie. 

Up with the Souters of Selkirk, and down with 

the Earl of Hume. 
Was ye at the bridal ? 
Wate ye how the play began. 
We'll a' to Kelso go. 
We're a* Mar's men. 
Well a day. 

What have i done for want of wit ? 
What the devil ails you ? 
When the king came o'er the water. 
Where shall our good man lye ? 
Widow, are ye wawking ? 
Will ye go to Sheriff-muir ? 
Will ye lend me your loom, lass ? 
Willy's the lad for me. 



26 



Woe is me, what maun i do ? 

Woe's my heart that we should sunder. (Orig'mai) 

Ye'll ay be welcome back again. 

Ye took your packs 

Upon your backs. 
Ye wadna stay. 

Ye ran away. 

N. B, The tunes to most of these songs are still 
preserved.* 

• This list of songs was printed in the Scots j Magazine for 
January 1802, with the following notice prefixed : " The edi- 
tors of the Scots Magazine having been favoured with the fol- 
lowing list of desiderata in Scotish Song, by that eminent and 
accurate antiquarian J. Ritson, Esq. beg leave to call the atten- 
tion of their countrymen more particularly to this subject. 
They have the utmost reason to believe, that many, perhaps the 
majority, of the songs here enumerated, are still preserved by 
tradition, and float in the occasional recitation of the Scotish 
Liowlanders ; at least it is absolutely certain that many beauti- 
ful verses, if not complete songs, have been preserved in this 
manner. That these should at least be corrected (collected ?) 
and arranged, must be the ardent wish not only of every Scots- 
man, but of every person who possesses a taste for nature and 
simplicity. The history of Scotish song, though equally inter- 
esting and curious, from the total neglect in which it remained 
for a very long period, has become a subject of very difficult 
discussion, and can only be illustrated by an appeal to facts. 
As the opportunities of illustration are constantly diminishing, 
the editors of the Scots IMagazine cannot resist the temptation 



^7 

Gray's Inn, My Qlst, 1795. 
DEAR SIR, 

I had prepared a letter for you, with which I 
intended to have troubled Mr Laing, who pro- 
of availing themselves of this occasion, to invite the communi- 
cations of every person who can repeat Scotish songs, or who 
may have an opportunity of transcribing the fleetuig records of 
tradition. An opportunity lost may never again occur ; and 
within these last twenty years, numerous opportunities of re- 
covering beautiful monuments of Scotish song have certainly 
been lost. At the same time, they cannot help suggesting the 
propriety, or rather necessity, that there is for every person 
pledging his veracity for the accuracy of his communications ; 
whUe they recoUect the obloquy that the national character has 
incurred from a few instances of literary imposition, which the 
authors probably intended rather as experiments on the critical 
taste of the times, than experimental deceptions of the under- 
standing." 

Notwithstanding of this appeal, little was then done to- 
wards the recovery of the remains of the popular poetry of 
the country. Subsequently, by the activity and industry of 
a few individuals, many of the songs enumerated in Ritson's list, 
were obtained, besides a number he had never heard of; and, 
let it be remembered, that, in addition to the many other obliga- 
tions conferred on Scotish literature by Sir Walter Scott, he it 
was, who first successfully excited his countrymen to collect and 
preserve the rude, but expressive lays of their forefathers, by 
the publication of his Border ^Minstrelsy ; and that he has 
since uniformly encouraged and promoted every undertaking 
which had such an end for its object. 



28 

mised, if I did not misunderstand him, to fa- 
vour me with a call before he left town. Since, 
however, he has thought proper to take French 
(rather than Scotch) leave, I am under the ne- 
cessity of re- writing my letter, as it ran to a cou- 
ple of sheets, and one finds it difficult under the 
late regulations, and at this time of year, to pro- 
cure a cover. 

Mr Chalmers, whose character and conduct 
intitle him to every possible instance of atten- 
tion and civility, was in possession of Mr Herd^s 
MSS. before the receit of your last favour. 

I don't know how I expressed myself respect- 
ing the long list I took the liberty of communi- 
cating ; but, in fact, it was a list of songs, — and 
not of tunes, as you seem to imagine. However, 
it was not meant, in any point of view, to give 
you the trouble you appear to have taken about 
it. 

The Shakspeare papers, which have of late 
been so much the subject of conversation, are 
in the possession of Mr Samuel Ireland, of 
Norfolk Street, in the Strand, who has long 



29 

distinguished himself as an amateur and collec- 
tor of the works of Hogarth, as well as by se- 
veral literary publications. He himself informed 
me, that they were discovered by his son, among 
some old writings, in the chambers of a gentle- 
man in the Temple, whose name he was not at 
liberty to mention. I am since told that he has 
not only considerably augmented the collections 
which I saw, by the addition of playhouse ac- 
counts and tracts from Shakspear's library, but 
has likewise occasionally varyed the relation of 
his becoming possesed of it. However, as I had 
not the shghtest doubt as to the fabricatian or 
forgery of every thing he shewed me, my cu- 
riosity was never tempted to repeat the visit.* 

• The immediate detection of this forgery, is a decisive proof 
. — if indeed any proof on the subject were necessary — of the 
soundness, generally speaking, of Ritson's judgement. That 
which had perplexed individuals of the first Uterary eminence, 
and to expose which jNIalone had written a goodly octavo vo- 
lume, containing numerous reasons, (one half of which were 
wrong,) was instantly detected by this singular man, upon a cur- 
sory inspection. Young Ireland's accoimt of the interview is 
too interesting to be omitted. 

" The sharp physiognomy, the piercing eye, and the silent 
scrutiny of Mr Ritson, filled me with a dread I had never be- 



80 

I take the whole scheme to have been executed 
within these three or four years; since the 
publication, that is, of Malone's edition of 
Shakspeare ; and by, or under the direction of, 
some person of genius and talents, which ought 
to have been better employed. It appeared to 
me, at the time, that Ireland himself was the 
dupe of this imposture ; but whether he be still 
ignorant of its real nature and design, I cannot 
be quite so positive. The things I saw were 
deeds, letters, verses, drawings, conundrums, 
&c. &c. together with the entire play of K. Lear ; 
every article of which it would be a very easy 
matter to demonstrate, as well by intrinsic as by 
external evidence, to be a recent and palpable 
forgery. The most remarkable circumstance, 

fore experienced. His questionings were laconic, but always 
to the purpose. No studied flow of words could draw him from 
his purpose ; he was not to be hoodwinked ; and, after satisfy- 
ing his curiosity, he departed from INIr Samuel Ireland's house 
without delivering any opinion, or committing himself in the 
smallest circumstance. In fine, I do as firmly believe that 
]Mr Ritson went away fully assured that the papers were spu- 
rious, as that I have existence at this nioment.^' -—Confcssious 
of WUUam Henry Ireland^ p, 227- 



31 

perhaps, in this iniquitous business, and that 
which is, apparently, best calculated to promote 
its success, is — that the parchment and seals are 
indisputably ancient and authentic ; so that the 
original writing must have been entirely effaced. 
This effect, however, can be, and doubtless has 
been produced by a chemical preparation, (well 
known, it seems, to forgers of notes,) which re- 
moves every vestige of ink, without the slight- 
est injury to the substance on which it has been 
used. With respect to the anachronisms and 
inconsiscencies which here and there occur, some 
(if not all) of them have, probably, been intro- 
duced for the express purpose of being one day 
or other triumphantly brought forward, by the 
impostor himself, as demonstrative proofs of the 
ignorance and gullibility of the Shakspeare con- 
noisseurs. The success of the subscription (four 
guineas) is not, I understand, such as to induce 
Mr Ireland to give his treasures to the public, 
for the present.* 

• For an accoixnt of this extraordinary forgery, see Ireland*^ 
Confessions — one of the most amusing books ever written. 



I observe, with pleasure, what Mr Herd has 
remarked upon the confusion made by Pinker- 
ton of the two Pennecuiks. He has, with equal 
ignorance, confounded the two Hamiltons (of 
Bangour and Gilbertfield.) But, indeed, his 
blunders are venial, when compared with the 
more criminal parts of his literary and moral 
character. 

Do you possess, or did you ever meet with, 
« The Taill of Rai/f Coilzear, printed at Sanct 
Androis be R. Lekprevik, 1572 ?''* You, at 
least, recollect the title in Ames : and the hero, 
whoever he was, (for I cannot comprehend how 
he harbreit King Charles,) is mentioned by 
Dunbar, (Ancient Scottish Poems, Edin. 1770,) 

*' Kyne of Rauf Colyard and Johne the reif." 

Lord Hailes, by the way, in his note upon 
this line, supposes " Johne the reif* to mean 



• There is a copy, supposed unique, in the Advocates' Li- 
brary. It has been reprinted by Mr David liaing in his valu- 
able " Select Remains of the Ancient Popular Poetry of Scot- 
land." Edin. 182?, 4to. 



Jdhny Armstrong ; which cannot be : since, be- 
sides that the poem itself is in all probability 
older than Armstrong's time, he is hkewise 
named, along with this same Rauf Coilzear, in 
Bishop Douglas's Police of Honour^ written 
before 1518 : 

" I saw Raf Coihear, with his fhrawin brow, 
Craibit Johne the reif, and auld Cowkewpis Sow." 

Johne the reify in fact, is John the reve, (or 
bailif,) the subject of a very ancient popular 
poem, of which Dr Percy, who has it in his 
folio MS. long since promised the publication. 
CowkewpiS'Sow is another old poem in the 
Hyndford MS.* As for Rauf Coilzear, there 
was perhaps, a still earlyer edition of his story 
than Lekprevik's, it being mentioned in Wed- 
derburn's Complainte, 1549. 

I am sorry to learn the death of poor Smellie, 
whose name reminds me of a whimsical anec- 

■ Colkelbie sow was for the first time printed in Mr Laing*s 
work before mentioned, under the editorial care of Robert Pit- 
cairn, Esq. a gentleman to whom the public is infinitely 
indebted for the publication, now going on, of all that is import 
tant in the Justiciary record. 

D 



34 

dote. In the course of a conversation, one 
evening, at the Trijpe Cluh,^ (when I was last 
in Edinburgh,) upon the aversion which the 
people in Scotland had formerly borne to the 
family at present on the throne, Smellie remark- 
ed, as an equally strong and singular instance, 
that they had given the royal name, Geordie, 
to a sir-reverence: now, on looking casually over 
" the works of Captain Alexander RatclifFe,"" 
printed in 1696, but apparently written some 
years before, I find that this illustrious name 
had been thus lamentably degraded before the 
present family was heard of; from which, of 
course, as a loyal subject, I am anxious to re- 
move so dirty an imputation. The passage I 
allude to is the following, in the Epistle from 
Paris to Helen : 

The warty fist between your breast does seem 
Like a Irorau George dropt in a bowl of cream. ■)- 

* Of which the late Alexander Campbell, the editor of Al- 
byn's Anthology, and author of a (very imperfect) History of 
Scotish Poetry, &c. Neil the printer, and other citizens of Edin- 
burgh, were members. 

i" Radcliffe's Ovid Travestie, in which these lines occur, had 



S5 

The actual origin of this curious appellation 
is now, perhaps, impossible to ascertain. A pro- 
pos, who is, or is to be, the new Secretary to 
your Antiquarian Society, and do they intend to 
publish a second volume of their Transactions ? 
Adieu, my dear Sir : May you live a thousand 
years I 

J. RITSON. 



been printed separately many years before. The second edition, 
*' Enlarged with Ten Epistles never before printed," appeared 
in 1681, London, 8vo. His Miscellaneous Poems were pub- 
lished the ensuing year. The following is the title of the 
volume : " The Ramble, an Anti-heroick Poem, together with 
some Terrestrial Hymns and Carnal Ejaculations, by Alexan- 
der RadclilFe, of Gray's Inn, Esq. Semel insanlvimus Omnes, 
London, printed for the author, and are to be sold by Walter 
Davis, in Amen Corner, 1682." It is dedicated to James 
Lord Annesley. From the " Bookseller's Preface to his Cus- 
tomers," it would seem that Lord Rochester was generally sup- 
posed to have been the author of the " Ramble ;" and this sup- 
position probably arose from the extreme indecency of the 
poem, which, though possessing considerable humour and point, 
is dreadfully grosso 



APPENDIX. 



No. I. 

Scotuh Songs. 2 vols. 12 wo. 10^. boards. Johnson, 
179^.* 

When the editor of these volumes published his 
* Select Collection of English Songs/ and his ' An- 
cient Songs/ he attacked Dr Percy with the most 
shameful and disgusting virulence ; and even, as we 
are informed, proceeded so far as to terra the learned 
and respectable Prelate a lining priest, in a letter 
written purposely for his inspection. All this, gen- 
tle reader, was because the Doctor, in his early 
years, had published that valuable collection, the 
^ Reliques of Ancient English Poetry/ in which he 
had sometimes corrected a word, or added a supple- 
ment, to the originals. 

We are told by travellers, that some of the Tartar 
•nations are accustomed, when they kill an enemy, to 
make a drum of his skin, on which they beat tattoos 
-of double terror. And never was wild Cossack, or 
French democrat, more redoubtable than our present 
hero, whose books are mere drums of the skins of his 
enemies ; that is, of all who have unluckily fore- 

" Critical Review, January 1795, p. 49. 



38 



stalled any of his important pursuits. Beware, ye 
editors of Robin Hood, or Tom Thumb ! Rash men, 
look to your skins ! Ye humble ballad-mongers, hire 
alarmists, for the Tartars are coming ! 

The present drum is made of the skin of John 
Pinkerton, peace to his manes ! tympanizatur in pace, 
Pinkerton, originally a ballad-monger, was some- 
what of a drummer in his own time ; and his ghost, 
we presume, will listen with delight even to the 
sound of his own skin. 

To drop the metaphor, ere it grow stale, it is im- 
possible to be serious, when we see a writer so weak 
as to burst into impotent rage, and even fall into 
convulsions, at a change of a letter or word in an old 
ballad : and nothing can be more puerile than to ima- 
gine that there is no room for a new publication till 
the former ones be cut down. Mr Ritson might 
have published collections of English or Scotish poe- 
try, without assailing any former editor ; and his 
industry and exactness would have attracted estima- 
tion. He might, in justice and candour, have praised 
former editors for what they did, instead of indul- 
ging that malignity, which disgusts the reader of 
books of amusement, and is only acceptable to a few 
perverse spirits, who rejoice to see authors make 
themselves little by fighting like game cocks ; and, 
while they seem to applaud their own cock, are 
laughing at him in their sleeves. 



^9 



This collection is neatly printed, and is accompa- 
nied with the music. But we had higher expecta- 
tions from the editor's powers of research on such . 
topics, than we here find realised. Most of the 
pieces are trivial and common : and we rose from the 
work, not only without the gratification of novelty, 
but with disgust at the editor's prejudices, and want 
of taste and discrimination. 

Prefixed are a Preface, and an Historical Essay on 
Scotish Song ; and we shall with them begin our 
remarks, and leave the reader to judge how far this 
editor has a title to assume such a ludicrous despo- 
tism in his present department, which he thus enters 
upon, as the Byzantine emperors commenced their 
decrees with Nostra Divinitas. 

*' It may be naturally supposed that a publication of this na- 
ture would have been rendered more perfect by a native of 
North Britain. Without discussing this question, the editor 
has only to observe, that diligent enquiry, extensive reading, 
and unwearyed assiduity, added to the strictest integrity, and 
most disinterested views, have possibly tended to lessen the dis- 
advantages of an English birth ; and that he is persuaded the 
present collection, such as it is, will not suffer by comparison 
■with any thing of the kind hitherto published in either coun- 
try." 

Who would not imagine, from this self-importance, 
that some solemn affair were in hand ? What must 
be the power of that mind which can descant with 
such dignity on a ballad ? To us, who are accustom- 



40 



ed to treat trifles as trifles, it recals the remembrance 
of a venerable old man who once appeared at a fair, 
shaking a child's rattle, and gravely stroking his 
beard at every pause. 

The remarks on the Celtic language among the 
Galwegians, p. xiii. of the Essay, proceed on erro- 
neous suppositions, the editor having ventured be- 
yond his little pale. The wild Scots of Galloway, 
who spoke Irish, were a colony permitted to settle 
there in the fifteenth century, while a constant in- 
tercourse, and mutual aid, prevailed between Scot- 
land and the north of Ireland. They are unmen- 
tioned before that time ; and have nothing to do with 
the old Galwegians. The other arguments are 
equally futile, and beneath notice. Nor can greater 
ignorance be evinced than in the imagination, p. xv. 
that the Celts had ever peopled Scandinavia ; where, 
as every antiquary knows, not a Celtic word, nor mo- 
nument, remains. The Duan, p. xix. is written in 
Irish, as was the genealogy of Alexander III. 
though all know that English was the common lan- 
guage of the Scotish court at that time. The bard 
addresses the people of Albany, or Scotland, in ge- 
neral, not the Celts only, as our editor implies in his 
note. 

With similar learning he misquotes the Scaligeri- 
ana, to shew that James V. was camard, or flat- 
nosed ; while Joseph Scaligcr is speaking of his con- 



41 



temporary James VI. who was flat-nosed and ugly, 
as all his portraits shew. Joseph was hardly born 
when James V. died; and this Monarch added to a. 
most graceful countenance an aquiline nose, as ap- 
pears not only from the old engraved portraits, but 
from that lately published, from an ancient painting, 
in the Portraits of Illustrious Persons of Scotland. 
As Mr Ritson deals much in trifles, it is surprizing 
that he is not accurate in his trifles ; but we hope 
that, by pointing out such strange errors, we shall 
teach him a most useful lesson, modesty, the sense 
of his own faults, and a consequent lenity for those 
of others. 

Of his candour in this Essay, we shall select the 
following specimen : 

' In the year 1719, the celebrated poem or ballad of Hardy- 
knute first appeared at Edinburgh, as " a fragment," in a folio 
pamphlet of 12 pages. That it is of no greater antiquity, must 
be perfectly clear, from every species of evidence, intrinsic or 
extrinsic, and the only means of reconciling the seemingly oppo- 
site accounts of its birth, is to conclude it the illegitimate off- 
spring of INIrs Wardlaw, by Sir John Bruce. The two stanzas 
b^inning " Aryse, zovmg knicht," the three beginning " Now 
with his ferss and stalwart train," the two beginning " Sair 
bleids my leige," the six beginning " Quhair lykea fyre," and 
the three last, are not in the first edition, (which was reprinted 
in four leaves, 8vo.) but originally appeared in the Ever-green ; 
in which many different readings are given, and Eamsay, to 
confirm the authenticity of the whole, has every where changed 
the initial y to ;;■. That a compoation abounding with evident 



42 



imitations of, and direct allusions to modern and familiar poetry, 
in short, that a palpable and bungling forgery, without the 
slightest resemblance of any thing ancient or original, should 
have passed either in England or Scotland, for a genuine relique 
of antiquity, would appear almost incredible and miraculous, if 
there were not subsequent instances of a similar delusion. Why 
the Scotish literati should be more particularly addicted to lite- 
rary imposition than those of any other country, might be a cu- 
rious subject of investigation for their new Royal Society. Dr 
Johnson, indeed, is of opinion, that " a Scotchman must be a 
very sturdy moralist, who does not love Scotland better than 
truth ; he will always love it," he says, " better than inquiry : 
and, if falsehood flatters his vanity, wUl not be very diligent to 
detect it." He is speaking of another forgery, — the Poems of 
Ossian. However this may be, the fact is incontestable ; and 
the forgeries of Hector Boethius, David Chalmers, George Bu- 
chanan, Thomas Dempster, Sir John Bruce, AVilliam Lauder, 
Archibald Bower, James IMacpherson, and John Pinkerton, 
stamp a disgrace upon the national character, which ages of ex- 
ceptionless integrity will be required to remove ; an sera, how- 
ever, which, if one may judge from the detestation in which the 
most infamous and despicable of these impostors is universally 
held, has already commenced.' 

The confusion of ideas in this paragraph is won- 
derful. Of the forgeries of David Chalmers we 
know nothing. Buchanan, we suppose, is arraigned 
as the forger of Mary's letters, a charge only believed 
by bigots ; and, if they were forged, Maitland of 
Lethington was certainly the man. Bruce and Pin- 
kerton forged old ballads ; and the latter has long- 
ago pointed out all his forgeries in that way, which 



43 



strike us as being as innocent as the Impostures In- 
nocentes of Picart. At our author's reflections our 
northern neighbours will only smile ; but we must 
be pardoned for exposing his ignorance. There is, 
in fact, no country in Europe, but has produced as 
many literary impostors as Scotland. In Italy, they 
have swarmed ; witness the works of Annius of Vi- 
terbo, of Inghiramius, of numerous writers of the 
fifteenth century ; it is even doubtful if Quintus 
Curtius be not a forgery of that period. In France, 
let the false Turpin, Hunibaldus, &c. &c. be men- 
tioned. In Spain, the forgeries of History, the 
false Idatius, Julianus, Dexter, Braulo, Heleca, Eu- 
trandus, &c. &c. amount to more than twenty, as 
the reader may see on consulting the Bibliotheca 
Hispanica of Antoninus, Even in England, Leland, 
Bale, and Pitts, (with Bishop Tanner their blind 
follower,) are as eminent forgers in their way as 
Thomas Dempster ; and Chatterton may vie with 
Macpherson : not to mention Sir Thomas Elliot, the 
forger of the Commentaries of Alexander Severus, 
&c. &c. 

As to the extension our editor gives to the idea of 
forgery, it only shews a want of judgment and dis- 
crimination. According to this saint in trouble, Mr 
Addison, in his tales in the Spectator, from oriental 
MSS. ; Mr Pope, in his Anecdotes of the Court of 
Pharamond, from a MS. in the same work ; Montes- 



44 



qtiieu, in his Persian Letters, (for brevity we pass 
many known instances,) are criminal forgers. A 
little mind, never itself warmed by genius, nor sen- 
sible to its impressions, may thus judge ; but the 
public is a jury of more liberality and candour. 

The repeated attacks, in text and notes, on Pin- 
kerton's youthful productions, the Select Scotish 
Ballads, &c. we pass in silence, for they are too sa* 
voury for our pages. But we must express our sur- 
prise, that so keen an author has hit no blot, but has 
shot his arrows at random. Without metaphor, no 
error is pointed out, but only general invectives, be- 
stowed with such surprising fecundity and grace, as 
to remind us of a gentleman mentioned in scripture, 
* who was angry because his time was but short.' 

As the most favourable specimen of the Essay, we 
shall select the concluding part, on the musical in- 
struments used in Scotland, after premising, that the 
chorus is a bag-pipe, as shewn by Mr Ledwich in 
his Antiquities of Ireland ; but we are fatigued with 
pointing out minute errors and imperfections ; and 
only request the reader to believe that we are not 
insensible of the others in this extract.* 

In proceeding to the Poems, which being mostly 
known to our readers, will hardly admit of extracts, 

• It was judged unnecessary to give the quotation, which is 
very long ; the reader is therefore referred to the passage commen- 
cing " A few words should," &c. in the Preface to the Songs. 



4o 



we must premise, that our editor has spared no paints 
to reject any improvement, and to restore them to 
error and imperfection : a zeal eminently laudable, 
in an age when reformation is thought as dangerous 
as it is to get rid of the gout. We have no opinion 
of our author's general learning ; but must whisper 
in his ear that it is profanation, nay, (in his saintly 
scale of crimes) it is blasphemy ^ for any editor to 
publish any classic, except in fac simile of the MS. 
Hold you, Mr Heyne, you sacrilegious professor ! 
And Virgil too ! An old author ! None of your im- 
provements and conjectures ! All must be fac simile. 
No other simile will go down. Here are Tom 
Heame and John Ritson, Tom O Nokes and John 
O Styles. — But copper-plates will be too expensive. 
Sirs, for printing my Virgil. — O true, Mr Profess 
sor, copper is expensive, though brass be not. But 
do give us a little touch of the black letter, you un- 
derstand : and by all means supply not a word, a 
syllable ; give us all the contractions, all the sweet 
contractions, not a pot-hook can be spared. 
' Hidentein dicere verum quid vetat ?' 

For such, in solemn truth, is the state of this 
mighty question ; and for the practice of every edi- 
tor in Europe, does Mr Ritson publicly call respec- 
table men, impostors, forgers, and lyars» 

The notes are few, and sometimes erroneous, as 
for instance, the appariiioti to Col. Gardiner. By 



46 



the preservation of all the Jacobite songs, (read not 
Jacobin) the editor has, as on other occasions, evin- 
ced his fondness for their principles. The following 
we select as an antidote, and as short. 

' YE JACOBITES BY NAME. 

* Ye Jacobites by name, give an ear, give an ear j 
Ye Jacobites by name, give an ear ; 
Ye Jacobites by name, 

Your faults I will proclaim, 
Your doctrines I maun blame, 
You shall hear. 

Wliat is right, and what is wrang, by the law, by the law ? 
"WTiat is right, and what is wrang, by the law ? 
What is right, and what is wrang ? 
A short sword, and a lang, 
A weak arm, and a Strang 
For to draw. 

What makes heroic strife, fam'd afar, fam'd afar ? 
What makes heroic strife, fam'd afar ? 
What makes heroic strife ? 
To whet the assassin's knife, 
Or hunt a parent's life 
Wi' bludie war. 

Then let your schemes alone, in the state, in the state j 
Then let your schemes alone, in the state ; 
Then let your schemes alone, 
Adore the rising sun, 
And leave a man undone 
To his fate.' 



4T 



We forbear any further extracts, as the pieces are 
already known ; and shall only add a few remarks on 
the glossary. 

Bansters, are not men who bind sheaves, but 
blustering fellows, swearers ; to han^ is to curse. 

Bardies, are not little bards, but auld bardies, 
old bearded men. 

Blmks, Mr Ritson cannot interpret, though in the 
preceding line he gives its preterit hlinUtf glanced. 
* The blythe blinks in her eye,' is, ' Joy sparkles in 
her eye.' 

Brag, is boast, scold. 

Bridal, from bride-ale f So burial is from bury- 
ale, and ceremonial, from ceremony-ale. 

Broom, heath ! a mere provincialism in some parts 
of England. Broom, is broom, genista. 

Brok, unknown, is badger. 

Bughting, ewe-milking ! It is putting them into 
bughts, or folds, whether milked or not. 

Ha-kouse and pantry, are strangely confounded 
with but and ben. Hall and pantry are different 
from kitchen and parlour. 

Bi/de, not endure ; but remain. 

Carl, is not old man, but churl, and is applied to 
old and young. 

Cess, is city-tax. 

Chapped stocks, unknown, are cabbage stocks 
chopped with butter. 
Cock, strut. 



48 



Gluve, to play at the glove, is to tilt at a glove. 

Gowff'd, is laughed. 

Heezijy a fall. 

Kyrtle, is not upper-petticoat, but our modern 
gown, a waist and petticoat. A kyrtle and mantle 
completed a woman's dress. 

Limmer, was formerly rogue ; nor is it now whore, 
but slut. 

The interpretation of luk my head, is ridiculous ; 
the original word was doubtless, lutCf lout, bow. 

Mazer, is fine earthen ware, probably made at 
Masieres in Champagne. 

Pam is French, pas, passe ; as in English paw- 
tricks are pas, pas, not to be done. 

Shyre, is sheer. Slatted, is slided, glided. 

Tait, small quantity, sticking together as a lock 
of hair, or of wool. 

Touk of drum, tuck of drum. 

Turs, to tiirse, is to bundle. Weers, is worse. 

We have passed other instances of wrong inter- 
pretation, or of the want of it, as these may convince 
our readers that Mr Ritson is little versed in the 
Scotish dialect, though he aspire to be a superlative 
judge of every production in it. He may at present 
regard us as his enemies ; but as soon as he abandons 
his petulant and dashing manner, which must in 
time be disgusting to himself, he will esteem us his 
best friends, for pointing out this worm in the bud. 



And as soon as he shall begin to write like ascholaf 
and a gentleman, with accuracy and modesty, we 
shall be the first to applaud his new career. 



Nail. 

EMracts from the Letters of R. Gough, Esq. to Mr 
George Paton, as to Ireland's Forgery. 

Mr Paton had written as follows to Mr Gough : — 
" What are the general sentiments of the public with 
regard to the late discoveries of the Shakspear MSS ? 
Whether genuine or not? Are any small editions in 
12mo. of them printed for common use ? This would 
be of rapid sale to the proprietor, who, it is presu- 
med, is Mr Ireland. I should be glad to learn who 
he is, and his character and particulars of the MSS» 
the hints handed here are so various, they meet with 
suspicious credit : there will be a flood of controversy 
on the subject." 

Custom-house, Edin. 12th Jan. 179C, 

The subjoined extracts give Mr Cough's commu« 
nication^ on the subject. 

1. 
" The new discovered Shakspear MSS, find little 
credit with the good judges of the subject. Mr Ire^ 
E 



50 



land, the Editor, threatens every body who speaks 
against his discoveries, and even the newspapers if 
they make extracts. I leave you to judge on what 
grounds his credit stands. He will be warmly, and 
to purpose, attacked by our Shakspear champions, 
and that ere long. No small edition will be publish- 
ed ; for the high subscription to the larger will hard- 
ly reimburse him. 
Enfield, Jan. 16. 1796. 

2. 

I shall use Mr Constable's leave to send your par- 
cels occasionally ; and in one of them, Mr Malone's 
complete detection of Mr Ireland's Shakspear MSS. 
compared with which the lesser pamphlets are but 
candles to the sun. The Play of Vortigern was per- 
formed at Drury Lane by some of our best actors 
last Saturday ; but not so well received as to be en- 
couraged to a second edition. Mr Malone's book 
came out two days before. 

Enfield, AprU 5. 1796. 

3. 

Mr Ireland has published a very menacing adver- 
tisement, that he is preparing with all convenient 
speed an answer to Mr Malone's 7nalevolent attack. 
It has been insinuated in some newspapers, that his 
son has convened a circle of literati, and is ready to 



t 



51 



make oath that his father did not forge the MSS. 
but was imposed on, and will leave no steps unpur- 
sued to detect the impostor. It was certainly very- 
extraordinary that the possessor of such valuable pa- 
pers should have any reasons for concealing himself, 
nor could reason of such silence be easily found. 
Enfidd, AprU 21. 1796. 

4. 

Mr Ireland has repeatedly 'advertised that he has 
heen deceived ; and his son as repeatedly, that if his 
father was deceived, it was through his means, be- 
ing first deceived. The great bubble is therefore 
burst, and probably no further notice will be taken 
of it on either side. 

Enfield, July 2. 1796. 

5. 

Mr Ireland has completely cried down his son ; 
and it is said is preparing a vindication of himself: 
but the public are tired of the forgery, by which 
their pockets have suffered more than by any former 
literary forgery. If you get a sight of the Monthly 
Review for July, you \vill see a complete detection. 

Enfield, Aug. 26. 1796. 

6. 
Mr Ireland announces a regular defence of his 



52 



conduct; though his son has concealed himself iit 
WaleSj and sold the famous library from whence his 
forgery was fabricated to Messrs Whites for their 
ensuing catalogue. Mr Chalmers has taken up the 
pen against Mr Malone's mode of proceeding, more 
than in defence of Mr Ireland, who is again extreme- 
ly hurt by being brought on the stage in a new play 
in the character of a forger of antiquities." 
Enfield, Nov. 18. 1796. 



THE END. 



W. AITKEN, PRINTER, 



\ 



^ 



♦ 



! 






I 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



022 015 806 8 



i.^»^ 



xa 







:i^^yjiiltm^ 






